Things to Do in Amsterdam: 15 Years of Local Secrets & Tourist Traps to Avoid

Why I'm Writing This Guide

Look, I've been calling Amsterdam home for fifteen years now, and frankly, I'm getting pretty fed up with seeing the same sugar-coated tourist nonsense everywhere I look.

You want to know the real things to do in Amsterdam? Great.

But I'm going to give it to you straight. No Instagram filter, no "everything is magical" nonsense. Just honest advice from someone who's actually lived through fifteen Dutch winters and knows which canal-side café will rip you off.

The things I recommend in Amsterdam come from actually living here, not from some weekend blogger who thinks they "discovered" the city after a long weekend.

Anne Frank House

I'm not going to lie. Every time I walk past the line of people waiting outside, I think, "thank goodness I don't have to do that anymore."

But with that said, the Anne Frank House absolutely deserves its spot as one of the top things to do in Amsterdam. This famous museum draws visitors from around the world, and for good reason.

I remember the first time I visited, about six months after moving here. Standing in those cramped rooms where a teenage girl wrote words that changed the world? It hits different when you're actually there.

The museum has this way of making history feel immediate and personal that I've never experienced anywhere else.

Pro tip from someone who's learned the hard way: tickets go live exactly six weeks ahead of time, every Tuesday at 10 am Central European Time.

Set three alarms, have your payment info ready, and pray your internet doesn't crash. I've watched too many friends get shut out because they tried to wing it. If you do manage to snag tickets, arrive early to avoid the worst of the crowds and give yourself time to fully absorb the experience.

Van Gogh Museum: More Than Just Sunflowers

Here's something that surprised me when I first moved here: the Van Gogh Museum actually lives up to the hype. I was expecting another overhyped tourist trap, but walking through those galleries genuinely changed how I see art.

The museum houses over 200 paintings and 500 drawings, basically the world's largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work.

What gets me every time is seeing how he evolved from those dark, brooding Dutch pieces to the explosion of color and emotion we all recognize.

The guy only had about two years of prime creative output, but man, did he make them count. You'll see his famous works like "The Potato Eaters" and various sunflower paintings, but it's the lesser-known pieces that really tell his story.

I've brought visiting friends here dozens of times, and even my most art-skeptical buddies walk out impressed. The building itself, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, gives the artwork room to breathe without competing for attention.

In my honest opinion, the Van Gogh Museum remains one of the essential things to do in Amsterdam, especially if you give a damn about art.

For more information, check our best attractions Amsterdam guide.

Learn more in our tulip season Amsterdam guide.

Red Light District: More Selfie Sticks Than Sex Work

Look, I get the curiosity about the Red Light District. The history is genuinely fascinating. This area has been dealing with sex work for centuries, and there's something honest about making it visible instead of pretending it doesn't exist.

But here's what actually happens when you stop by: you'll mostly be shuffling through crowds of drunk tourists taking photos and dodging overpriced bars that serve watered-down drinks.

If you're genuinely interested in the history and culture, come during the day when you can actually see the beautiful architecture. Red Light Secrets museum provides actual context instead of just gawking.

Tourist Coffee Shops: Highway Robbery with a Side of Regret

The coffee shops clustered around Centraal Station are basically designed to separate tourists from their money as efficiently as possible. Terrible quality, inflated prices, and an atmosphere that screams "we don't give a damn about you."

The better coffee shops are tucked away in neighborhoods such as the Jordaan, where locals actually go. The same goes for those cheese shops near major attractions: pure tourist theater. Try Reypenaer Cheese Tasting or just hit the local markets for cheese that doesn't cost more than your hotel room.

I recommend you explore hidden gems Amsterdam for alternatives if these spots don't do it for you.

Quiet Jordaan Courtyards: My Secret Escapes

When city life gets overwhelming, which happens more often than I'd like to admit, I disappear into the Jordaan courtyards. Karthuizerhof is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, and stepping through that entrance feels like traveling back in time. Same with Hofje van Brienen, though they close earlier on weekends.

These aren't Instagram spots; they're actual functional spaces where people have lived for centuries. I've spent countless afternoons reading in these courtyards, especially during those long Dutch winters when you need to remember that beauty still exists.

Markets Where Locals Actually Shop

Ten Katemarkt runs Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm, and it's where I do most of my grocery shopping. No tourist prices, no fake "authentic Amsterdam experience". What you will see is Turkish and Moroccan vendors selling incredible produce alongside regulars who've been shopping here for decades.

Van der Pekmarkt in Noord feels like a village market that somehow survived being swallowed by the city. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings, 9 am to 6 pm. I love the chaos of it.

Kids running around while parents argue over vegetable prices, elderly residents catching up on gossip. It's messy and real and everything I love about this city.

Free Ferry to NDSM: My Favorite Commute

Amsterdam's free ferries are hands down one of the best ways to see the city from the water. The F4 ferry to NDSM takes about 14 minutes, and I've taken it hundreds of times without getting bored of the view. The F7 is quicker (just 7 minutes), but I prefer the longer route when I'm not in a hurry.

These ferries run on the same public transport system as everything else, so if you've got a day pass, you're golden. I use them as a moving meditation when the city stress gets to me.

Neighborhood Guide: Where to Wander

Jordaan: Beyond the Postcard Bull

Everyone talks about the Jordaan like it's some preserved theme park, but the reality is messier and more interesting.

Yeah, there are art galleries and brown cafés, but there are also normal people living normal lives in between the tourist attractions.

Noordermarkt on Saturday mornings is where you'll find me buying organic vegetables and listening to street musicians who actually live in the neighborhood.

The market has this energy that reminds me why I fell in love with Amsterdam in the first place. It's real, it's imperfect, and it's absolutely beautiful.

De Pijp: Amsterdam's Most Lively Neighborhood

I lived in De Pijp for three years, and it taught me more about Amsterdam than any guidebook ever could.

Albert Cuyp Market runs Monday through Saturday, and it's where locals from every corner of the world come to buy groceries, argue about prices, and create the kind of beautiful chaos that makes this city special.

With that said, obviously, tourists have picked up on the awesomeness of this spot, so be warned: you won't be the only visitor soaking in the fun atmosphere.

Still, the food scene here is incredible. Not just the Dutch stuff, but Indonesian, Turkish, Moroccan, and everything else that reflects who actually lives in Amsterdam these days. This is where you eat if you want to understand the city beyond the tourist narrative.

Oost and Noord: The Future of Amsterdam

Oost is where young families move when they can't afford the Jordaan anymore, and it's created this incredible creative energy. Noord used to be industrial wasteland, but now it's where artists and designers are building the future of the city.

Café 't Sluisje has been serving Dutch food since 1565, and somehow it's survived every wave of change Amsterdam has thrown at it. When I want to connect with the city's deep history while sitting in its most forward-thinking neighborhood, that's where I go.

International Flavors: Amsterdam's Real Identity

Here's what most guides won't tell you: Amsterdam's best food isn't Dutch. The Indonesian rijsttafel at Restaurant Blauw will ruin every other Indonesian meal for you. Their modern take on traditional dishes reflects the complicated history between the Netherlands and Indonesia, but more importantly, it tastes incredible.

For casual Indonesian food, I hit the places along Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal or in De Pijp. These aren't tourist attractions, they're restaurants serving Indonesian families who moved here decades ago and know what real Indonesian food should taste like.

Brown Cafés: Where Real Amsterdam Happens

Brown cafés are basically Amsterdam's living rooms, and they've saved my sanity more times than I can count.

Café 't Papeneiland on Prinsengracht dates back to 1642, and sitting there with a small beer on a quiet Tuesday afternoon feels like the most Amsterdam thing you can possibly do. It can get a little busy, but is absolutely worth a stop-by.

Wynand Fockink is almost hidden off Dam Square, where they've been serving jenever (Dutch gin) since 1724. The staff actually knows the history and will teach you how to drink it properly, none of this shots-with-lime nonsense. It's one of those places that makes you feel connected to centuries of Amsterdam residents who probably needed a drink just as badly as you do.

The beer glasses here are small (22cl instead of pints) because local drinking culture is about conversation, not getting wasted. It took me a while to appreciate this, but now I love the ritual of it.

Not sure exactly when to come here? Check timing recommendations in our best time to visit Amsterdam guide.

Museums That Actually Surprise You

Micropia, right next to the main zoo entrance, is devoted entirely to microorganisms, and it's way cooler than it sounds. They've got these incredible high-tech displays that make bacteria and viruses look like abstract art.

The Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet) is exactly what it sounds like: an entire museum dedicated to cat art housed in a 17th-century canal house. Works by Picasso, Rembrandt, and other masters feature cats. Plus, several actual cats wander around the galleries like they own the place, which, honestly, they probably do.

Cycling Beyond the Tourist Routes

Amsterdam's bike infrastructure extends way beyond Vondelpark, and some of my favorite memories involve cycling routes that most visitors never discover.

The path along the Amstel River takes you through countryside that feels like a different century, and it's only 30 minutes from Dam Square.

Rent from neighborhood bike shops instead of the tourist companies near the station: better prices, better bikes, and they won't try to sell you a helmet like you're planning to ride through a war zone.

The route to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel follows the river through working farms and traditional windmills. There's a café at the end with river terraces that's perfect for the return journey, assuming you haven't gotten too distracted by how green and peaceful everything is.

Underground Culture: Where Amsterdam Gets Weird

The underground scene exists in spaces that change constantly, which is part of the appeal. OT301 is housed in a former film academy building, and the experimental performances and art installations there remind you that Amsterdam is still a place where creative people can take risks.

Radion in Noord is this converted radio transmission building where electronic music and digital art collide in ways that shouldn't work but absolutely do. Most shows start after 10 pm, which is perfect if you've spent the day doing tourist things and want to remember what Amsterdam feels like after dark.

Discover more in our off-the-beaten-path Amsterdam guide.

Contemporary Art Beyond the Obvious

The gallery scene around Spiegelstraat near the Rijksmuseum showcases what Dutch and international artists are doing right now. Galerie Fons Welters represents contemporary local artists in a beautiful 17th-century building, creating this conversation between old and new that Amsterdam does better than anywhere.

Annet Gelink Gallery in the Jordaan focuses on international contemporary art in a converted warehouse space. Their video installations and conceptual work can be challenging, but it's the kind of challenging that stays with you.

Evening Culture: How Amsterdam Really Lives

Brown cafés after sunset become something different, gathering places where locals decompress from the day and engage in actual conversation. Café de Reiger in the Jordaan attracts artists, writers, and people who've lived in the neighborhood for decades. The worn wooden furniture and dim lighting create an intimacy you can't manufacture.

De Twee Zwaantjes does weekend sing-alongs around the piano with traditional Dutch songs. I was skeptical until I experienced it. There's something about a room full of people singing together that transcends language barriers.

Music Venues That Give a Damn

Café Central near Leidseplein programs jazz, blues, and world music in a space where you're never more than fifteen feet from the performers. They've been operating since 1983, and many musicians who played there went on to international success, but they still book based on talent rather than fame.

Jazz Café Alto is where serious musicians and knowledgeable audiences create the kind of musical conversations that bigger venues can't accommodate. It's intimate in the best possible way. You feel like part of the performance rather than just observing it.

Explore more in our cultural things to do in Amsterdam guide.

Enjoying the Outdoors

Vondelpark gets all the attention, and it's genuinely great for free summer performances and weekend picnics. The open-air theater presents shows throughout July that range from excellent to bizarre, and both are worth experiencing.

My favorite outdoor activity is cycling the Amstel route to Ouderkerk, 15 kilometers through countryside that feels impossibly peaceful after city life. Several spots along the way are perfect for canal-side relaxation and remembering why the Dutch built their whole country around water.

Utrecht, 30 minutes out, has these unique canal terraces and the 112-meter Dom Tower with panoramic views that make you understand how flat this country really is. Zaanse Schans, 45 minutes away, showcases working windmills and traditional crafts. It's touristy but educational about pre-industrial Netherlands life.

Check our comprehensive Amsterdam experiences guide for more travel planning ideas.